The Photographic Van

Mobile Tintype Studio and Darkroom

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A forest with tall trees and orange autumn leaves, with a white van parked on a trail surrounded by fallen leaves.

The Photographic Van

  • The ultimate take-home gift for weddings receptions.

    Includes TEN 5×7 plates.

    Additional plates $100 each.

    $1500 + Mileage

  • Great for grand openings, anniversaries, special events, etc.

    Includes TEN 5×7 tintypes.

    Additional plates $100 each.

    $1500 + mileage

  • Perfect for reunions, birthday parties, private family sessions.

    Build your own package from the Pop-Up Menu

    $1000 + Mileage

  • The subject of the tintype is charged at the time of their sitting. Great for fundraisers, special events, etc.

    $1000 minimum. Host must cover difference should there be any.

Mobile Tintype Studio and Darkroom

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At-Home Tintype Sessions

This is an extra special service. My mobile darkroom and studio comes to you. Wether it be your home, a park, the mountains, your favorite campground — if there is a road, I can get there. Let the setting of your tintype heirlooms be the pace of your dreams.

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Pop-Up Prices

Black and white close-up photo of a man with curly hair, freckles, and a mustache, wearing a collared shirt and a denim jacket.

4×5

$125
A black-and-white portrait of a man and woman embracing, with the man wearing a hat, a suit, and tie, and the woman wearing a lace blouse. The woman has her hand on the man's chest.

5×7

$175
Black and white photograph of six people outdoors, surrounded by tall trees with sprawling branches. The group includes a seated woman in a floral dress, a woman in a leather jacket, two women with dark hair, a man with glasses, and a tall man with short hair standing behind them. The background features large trees and foliage, creating a natural setting.

8×10

$250
Schedule The Van

Most of the time we are making tintypes of couples, so I recommend 5×7s. 4×5s can be a little underwhelming. If larger groups are in the mix, 8×10’s are the way to go. Larger groups need to be naturally lit, as the chemistry is not sensitive enough to cover a large group with artificial lights. Open shade works best, as direct sunlight is simply too harsh. Please feel free to holler at me to discuss. All questions welcome.

Get Notified of Public Tintype Pop-Ups

I schedule occasional public pop-up events at local brew pubs, tattoo parlors, or the like.

Want me at your public place? Give me a holler to discuss.

CARING FOR YOUR TINTYPE

  • Display your tintype under a bright, specular light source for best viewing results.  I recommend propping them up directly under a lamp.

  • Let people pick up and hold your tintype. Tintypes are robust.  Baring any physical damage they will last hundreds of years.  ​

  • When fingerprints show, wash with cool water and wipe dry with a soft cloth.  Don't use windex or other chemical cleaners. 

  • Tintypes are varnished with a natural substance called Lavender Sandarac.  Is it amazing stuff, but not as hardcore as a poly.  

  • If you choose to frame your tintype, make certain there is an air gap between the glass and the plate.  If the plate touches the glass, given changes in humidity and temperature, over time the varnish will adhere to the glass. 

  • I recommend shadowboxes or frames without glass. Mount it 1/4 inch away from the back of the shadowbox for a cool 3D effect.

  • Tintypes are glossy, so is glass, so you will get a double the glare with glass.

  • Got any other questions or concerns, holler at me!

FREQUESTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • There are two options:

    1: The host pays the full amount. Typical for weddings, business events and family sessions:

    2: The subjects is charged at the time of their sitting, but the host is on the hook for the minimum should not enough folks show up. Social media advertising in advance is the key to success. Great for businesses trying to draw in more clientele.

  • We max out at around 6 tintypes per hour, give or take.

  • I need about 15×20 feet worth of space and access to electricity to set up the studio, as well as a place close-by to park the darkroom van. Tall ceilings are also key, unless we are shooting outdoors in which case shade is required.

  • For studio shots you will have to sit perfectly still for about 1 second. Natural light portraits are longer, requiring you to be perfectly still for up to 3+ seconds at a time…and that’s if the sun is shining, longer if it isn’t. 

  • Up to two people for our 5×7 lit portrait. 8×10 natural light portraits can acomodate more folks, but we need to stick to one size and one location for these pop-up events.

  • Come with ideas.  Wear something intriguing, or nothing at all.  Dress up.  Be formal.  Put on a hat.  Bring a prop. Go vintage. Go nude. Be you at your most wonderfully unique!! Everyone is welcome, and so are your ideas.  I encourage you to contact me ahead of time with your questions so that we can flesh them out for ultimate success.

  • Generally I mail the plates to the host after they have been washed, dried, varnished and baked. That takes a few days. The host is then responsible for distribution. This works great for businesses who want to bring their clients back twice: breweries, stores, etc. Alternatively, for an extra $25 per plate, I take down addresses and mail the tintypes directly to the subjects.

    • Tintypes are an antique handmade art form using equipment and techniques more than a century old.  As a result, chemistry artifacts will occur. Don't think of these as bugs, but features, giving each plate a unique - dare I say magical - quality.  That being said, if there is a big black streak right accross your face, I reshoot that plate at no cost.

  • I offer digital scans for $50 each. With that the subject will get a HUGE file good for making enormous, poster-sized prints as well as a smaller online friendly version. These are professionally scanned and processed files that are cleaned up and color balanced.

  • If I could give more than 5 stars,I would! My husband and I had wanted to get tintype photos done for years. We're so glad we did. Patrick really helped us collaborate on some beautiful photos. 10/10 would do again!

    • K Stowers

  • Now speaking of the photos…they came out incredible. Even better than I imagined, I can’t wait to be able to put them on display. Patrick has a fantastic eye and is an expert in his craft. He made the entire process of selecting poses and shooting them extremely enjoyable. My wife and I can’t wait to come back and have more photos taken. It was truly an amazing experience!

    • M Wilson

  • The Tintype Company was the best kind of experience. In a short time, Patrick explained the fascinating process and history of wet plate collodion photography. I enjoyed it so much that I asked if he had time for an additional tintype with my musical instrument, which he kindly accommodated. The result is now easily my favorite photograph of myself. Highly recommend!

    • J Smith

  • Amazing experience getting a tintype portrait done. Patrick was so kind and taught us about each step of the process. A can't-miss stop in Boulder!

    • E Campbell

  • Patrick was absolutely amazing!! He made us feel comfortable in front of the camera, provided feedback and posing ideas, and made the whole thing feel seamless. The real treat of the experience was having the opportunity to learn so much from an absolute professional

    • K Meadows

  • "I took maternity photos with Patrick last summer when I was 9 months pregnant - the experience and results were incredible! I wanted to do something unique and artistic and Patrick was the perfect photographer to work with. He had so many ideas and helped me make memories that are now family heirlooms! I cherish my photos more than I can describe."

    • Jayne G.

  • If you are even remotely considering tintype photography, just do it and do it with Patrick. You will not regret it. The photos that he captured are going to be some of my prized processions as well as family heirlooms for generations to come.

    • L Kinney

  • "Hands down the best experience of my life! Patrick was so welcoming to myself and my husband. His passion for his work definitely shows! We will treasure these photos for the rest of our lives.

    • Kristin H.

  • "Wow! What a phenomenal experience! Sometimes you meet a really genuine person and it just transfers to their work. We absolutely love our tintypes."

    • Grace W.

  • "My fiancé and I had the BEST time getting our engagement photos done with Patrick! He took time to educate us on the inner workings of the camera, the photography process, and the development process. He was so kind and welcoming - he made the entire day so much fun. "

    • Andrea S.

  • "Patrick photographed my husband and I the morning after our wedding. The attention to detail, the warm and friendly interaction - we felt like we were hanging with a friend! This was truly the most wonderful experience for our first day as Husband and Wife and would 13/10 do it again."

    • Kira C.

  • "Hands down one of the coolest experiences ever, & that’s all thanks to Patrick! He is so welcoming, fun, knowledgeable, & his passion for his art just radiates. This was the first thing my husband & I wanted to do for our honeymoon & I cannot recommend him enough."

    • Joslyn S.

  • Patrick is a wonderful host and so fun work with! My husband and I got a portrait done by Patrick for our anniversary. He took us through the process and showed us how tintype is done. It was a very fun and educational time! I highly recommend seeing Patrick for a beautiful photo and a fun day.

    • C Heard

  • We had such an amazing time taking tintypes at Patrick’s studio!! It was such a special experience, you can tell that Patrick loves what he does. He made sure every plate was perfect. He made sure we were comfortable and gave us great direction. His passion and expertise is apparent when you see the final results of the plates!

    • S Garman

  • My partner and I had a portrait done for a housewarming gift to ourselves and we absolutely had our expectations exceeded by Patrick. We loved learning all the steps that go into this craft, and Patrick is certainly an expert in the field and its history.

    • Z Willard

  • My husband wanted to recreate a 100 year old portrait of his Great-Great-Grandfather so we booked a session to bring our two small boys to Patrick's studio for a photo of the boys and a family photo. We had the most wonderful experience! Patrick was so welcoming to our little crew. He let the boys feed his chickens and play with his sweet dog. My five year old was so amazed by the process. I would highly recommend the whole experience!

    • J Westbrook

  • Incredible experience! Patrick talked about the entire process and history behind tintypes and it was so fun to learn about. We can’t wait to treasure these for years to come.

    • Julie L

  • Patrick very obviously adores the art that he provides so generously for a super reasonable price. My partner and I just did photos with him after driving all the way out from Wisconsin and we had nothing short of an exceptional experience. He wants nothing but the best for the photos and will stop at nothing to assure that you’re happy with them. 11/10 for this fantastic experience.

    • M Worklan

Two men setting up camera equipment outdoors underneath trees with lighting and a white backdrop, one man adjusting a camera on a tripod and the other seated near a dog.

If you're interested in working with me, complete the form with a few details about your project. I'll review your message and get back to you asap.